London Borough of Merton

Map showing golf courses in borough.

Merton has four active golf courses, (excluding those with fewer than nine holes) which together cover a total of 196.17 hectares. That's approximately 5.22% of the borough's total area. One course is publicly owned.

Course NameFreehold Ownership
Royal Wimbledon Golf CoursePrivately-owned
Wimbledon Park Golf ClubPrivately-owned
Woodcote Park Golf ClubPrivately-owned
Mitcham Golf ClubOther public body

In total, Merton has 72 holes across these courses.

Assuming one hole takes an average of 12.5 minutes to play, and that a maximum of four players can play each hole at the same time, the maximum number of people occupying Merton's courses over a twelve-hour day is 900, or 288 people at a time. Therefore the total maximum density across the borough's golf courses is 1.47 people per hectare.

Merton has an approximate housing density of around 23 homes per hectare. If new homes were to be built on all of the publicly-owned courses in the borough, at this density it would deliver circa 1,642 homes.

Alternatively, if housing was built on those areas of golf course limited to within 800m of a station or high street, or with a PTAL of 3 or more, then around 1,784 homes could be delivered at prevailing densities. That figure is 19.43% of total housing target for the next 10 years according to the Intend to the New London Plan.

However, the current London Plan advocates for higher density development in areas with good access to public transport. Assuming a (conservative) target of 60 dwellings per hectare, the total capacity of Merton's golf courses to provide new housing is 4,693, assuming only those areas of courses within the new London Plan policy H2 zone are reclaimed for housing. That is 51.12% of the borough's total housing target for the next decade.

Based on an average occupancy of 4 people per home (based on 3.1–3.7 hr/unit), the total number of people living within the H2 zone of these courses would be 18,773.

Using the same methodology for publicly-owned golf courses within Merton, a total of 2,661 homes might be created (11.02% of the London Plan target). Based on an average occupancy of 4 people per home (based on 3.1–3.7 hr/unit), the total number of people living within the H2 zone of these courses would be 10,644.

Merton has 423 people in temporary accommodation, and 10,215 households on its housing waiting list.

Area of Golf Courses by Freehold Ownership Type

Mitcham Golf Club

Mitcham Golf Club is a publicly-owned golf course with 18 holes, and an area of 48.85 hectares.

The freehold is owned by Mitcham Common Conservators, under freehold title number SGL705720.

44.35 hectares (90.79%) of the course's area lie within the London Plan Policy H2 zone (ie. within 800m of a station or town centre, or with a PTAL of 3 or more).

If the area of this course within the policy H2 zone were released for housing at existing borough densities (around 23 homes per hectare), it might be possible accommodate around 1,011 homes.

However, with a more ambitious density target of 125% compared to prevailing densities, this could be increased to around 1,264 homes.

The current London Plan advocates densities of between 35 and 130 dwellings per hectare, depending on PTAL. Assuming an average density of 60 dph, the capacity of golf courses within the new London Plan policy H2 zone is around 2,661.

All of this course's area is designated as Metropolitan Open Land.

None of this course lies within the green belt.

Royal Wimbledon Golf Course

Royal Wimbledon Golf Course is a privately-owned golf course with 18 holes, and an area of 60.35 hectares.

The freehold is owned by Farrer & Co Trust Corporation Limited, under freehold title number SGL454949.

All of this course's area is designated as Metropolitan Open Land.

None of this course lies within the green belt.

Wimbledon Park Golf Club

Wimbledon Park Golf Club is a privately-owned golf course with 18 holes, and an area of 28.80 hectares.

The freehold is owned by All England Tennis Ground Limited, under freehold title number TGL94008.

15.61 hectares (54.20%) of the course's area lie within the London Plan Policy H2 zone (ie. within 800m of a station or town centre, or with a PTAL of 3 or more).

If the area of this course within the policy H2 zone were released for housing at existing borough densities (around 23 homes per hectare), it might be possible accommodate around 356 homes.

However, with a more ambitious density target of 125% compared to prevailing densities, this could be increased to around 445 homes.

The current London Plan advocates densities of between 35 and 130 dwellings per hectare, depending on PTAL. Assuming an average density of 60 dph, the capacity of golf courses within the new London Plan policy H2 zone is around 937.

25 hectares (88.13%) of this course's area is designated as Metropolitan Open Land.

None of this course lies within the green belt.

According to the Guardian the course was purchased from Merton Council in 1993 for the sum of £5.2m and is now the subject of a controversial expansion programme by the All England Tennis Club as it tries to add new tennis courts to its existing facilities.

Woodcote Park Golf Club

Woodcote Park Golf Club is a privately-owned golf course with 18 holes, and an area of 58.17 hectares.

The freehold is owned by Woodcote Park Golf Club Limited, under freehold title number SGL615356.

18.26 hectares (31.39%) of the course's area lie within the London Plan Policy H2 zone (ie. within 800m of a station or town centre, or with a PTAL of 3 or more).

If the area of this course within the policy H2 zone were released for housing at existing borough densities (around 23 homes per hectare), it might be possible accommodate around 416 homes.

However, with a more ambitious density target of 125% compared to prevailing densities, this could be increased to around 521 homes.

The current London Plan advocates densities of between 35 and 130 dwellings per hectare, depending on PTAL. Assuming an average density of 60 dph, the capacity of golf courses within the new London Plan policy H2 zone is around 1,096.

The entirety of this course's area lies within the green belt.